Arsenal suffer Vieira setback

By John Ley

12:01AM BST 24 Oct 2003

Arsenal discovered yesterday that Patrick Vieira, their captain and crucial midfield cog, is likely to be absent for the next five games.

Vieira missed three games recently with a thigh injury but returned for the final 29 minutes of the 2-1 defeat by Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday. However, manager Arsene Wenger admitted that Vieira had aggravated his troublesome thigh problem and would be out for a "few weeks".

The latest injury setback means that Vieira will definitely miss Sunday's trip to Charlton, the Carling Cup tie against Rotherham next Tuesday and the visit to Leeds a week on Saturday.

Of more concern will be the fact that he is likely to be absent for the return against the Ukrainians on Nov 5 and, possibly, the North London derby against Tottenham at Highbury on the following Saturday.

The news suggests that Arsenal were premature in introducing Vieira in Kiev. Wenger said: "Patrick has had a setback and he will be out again for a few weeks. Maybe we were a little bit optimistic with him given the situation.

Related Articles

"We don't know what is happening with his muscle. But he isn't right, and it will be at least two more weeks. He definitely misses this weekend; there is no doubt about that."

Arsenal remain unbeaten in the Premiership, but there remains the concern that they could lose several players through suspension in the coming weeks.

Vieira is one of five Arsenal players facing a Football Association disciplinary charge following the unfortunate scenes after their match against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Wenger also has a concern over defender Martin Keown, another on an FA charge, and one who has not started a game since late September. He is also expected to be out for a further fortnight with a calf strain, though there was some better news on the state of Freddie Ljungberg's health.

He made a late appearance in Kiev after recovering from an ankle strain and should be fit to face Charlton as Arsenal search for a fourth straight League win.

Steve Coppell has made his first acquisition as Reading manager after completing the signing of Wolves midfielder Ivar Ingimarsson. The Iceland international has cost an initial fee of £100,000 with an extra £75,000 based on the performance of both the player and the club.

Sammy McIlroy, the new Stockport manager, has signed Leicester defender Matt Heath on a month's loan.

Robbie Stockdale, the Middlesbrough defender, has joined West Ham on loan for a month while former Derby striker Branko Strupar has joined Dinamo Zagreb.

Leroy Rosenior, the Torquay head coach, has been given permission to talk to Brighton. Rosenior tops a short-list of four following the departure of Coppell.

Sunderland have suffered a double blow with the news that Sean Thornton and Matt Piper could be sidelined for months through injury. Thornton has ankle ligament damage while Piper has torn a knee cartilage.